What did the Anne Arundel County Council question about the lease for the Discovery Village boat ramp?

The council members questioned the escalating rent and the ability of the property owner to make repairs and bill the county, potentially spending taxpayer money without a public appropriations process.

What did the Maryland Deputy Natural Resources Secretary say about the county closing the Discovery Village boat ramp?

The secretary said that closing the ramp violated the grant agreement and that the state may seek to enforce its rights, which includes the repayment of the grant to the Waterway Improvement Fund.

Home / Environment / County Faces $500K Repayment Demand After Closing Public Boat Ramp

County Faces $500K Repayment Demand After Closing Public Boat Ramp

Q: How much grant money did the county receive from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to build the Discovery Village boat ramp?

The county received a $533,833 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' Waterway Improvement Fund to build the ramp and keep it open to the public for 30 years.

5 Sep

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Summary

Anne Arundel County may have to repay Maryland over $500,000
County closed public boat ramp at Discovery Village in July
Lease terms raised concerns about taxpayer money oversight

County Faces $500K Repayment Demand After Closing Public Boat Ramp

In a concerning development, Anne Arundel County may be required to repay the state of Maryland more than $500,000 after the recent closure of the public boat ramp at Discovery Village. The ramp, which was built with a $533,833 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, was shuttered in July after county council members questioned the terms of the lease agreement with the private property owner.

According to the article, the lease contained escalating rent and allowed the owner to make repairs and bill the county, potentially spending taxpayer money without proper oversight. County council member Shanon Ledbetter stated that the lease terms should be fair and transparent to ensure accountability.

The closure of the popular ramp has sparked outrage among local boaters, who relied on it as the only free public access point within a 30-minute drive. Lisa Arrasmith, chair of the Public Water Access Committee, expressed shock and dismay over the sudden closure.

Now, the state is demanding that the county repay the grant funds, as the agreement required the ramp to remain open to the public for 30 years. A spokesperson for the county executive admitted that no one had anticipated the possibility of repayment during the budget hearings that led to the ramp's closure.

As the county scrambles to find a permanent solution, it has partnered with a nearby marina to provide temporary free public access through October. However, the long-term future of this vital community resource remains uncertain, with taxpayers potentially on the hook for the county's misstep.

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